Automatic spark plug cleaning device



I March 19, 1957 E. D. VAN BRIGGLE Fild Dec. 15, 1954 IN V EN TOR. ZZZ/7 D. V/YNBk/GGZE- United States Patent AUTOMATIC SPARK PLUG CLEANING DEVICE Elza D. Van Briggle, Bedford, Ind.

Application December 13, 1954, Serial No. 474,698

I 2 Claims. or. 123 191 This invention relates to an automatic spark plug cleaning means, and more particularly to a device or apparatus which enables the points of a spark plug to be cleaned while the plug is actually in use in an internal combustion engine.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide means for keeping the firing end of a spark plug clean and relatively free of carbon. Heretofore, as is well known, the firing end has soon become coated with carbon which adversely affects its firing action. With the present invention, any residue which would otherwise be left on the points during the explosion of the gases is automatically and immediately blasted away therefrom by the gases being exhausted from the area surrounding the points. This is accomplished by providing an auxiliary or expulsion chamber adjacent the points.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means for accomplishing the above purposes either in the form of a separable attachment for, or as an integral part of, the head of an internal combustion engine. Thus, should it not be desired by the automobile manufacturer to incorporate this feature in every automobile that is manufactured by it, then individual automobile owners can independently, if they so desire, purchase the attachment and apply it with ease.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide improved means for channeling fresh fuel up to the firing points of the plugs, and more specifically for keeping any residue of burned fuel away from those points. As a result of this construction better combustion is assured.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide means for making possible the use of lower grades of gasoline or fuel with a minimum of carbon deposit on the points.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation view partly in section showing the invention as an integral part of the head of an internal combustion engine.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a modified form of the invention partly in section showing the invention as a separate attachment.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation view of the modification showing the width of the invention.

In the drawings the internal combustion engine head is shown connected to the cylinder block 11 with the gasket 12 interposed therebetween. Both the head and cylinder block have conventional liquid chambers 13 for cooling purposes.

The combustion chamber in which a piston moves in the conventional manner is indicated at 14. Leading into this chamber is a relatively elongated passage 15 which turns at right angles to communicate with the points 16 of the spark plug 17. Thus the passage 15 is in reality L-shaped as shown in the figures. A second passage 18 is provided, it serving as an expulsion passage and also 2,785,670 Patented Mar. 19, 1957 Ice being relatively elongated. It is substantially'parallel to 18 is coaxial and concentric with the firing point of the The long portion of passage'15' spark plug, as shown. is thus offset from the axis of the plug. As a result of this construction and arrangement the compressed gas or air that is exhausted by the expulsion passage will expe rience great turbulence in its movement throughthe turn,

elbow or base portion between passages 15 and 18.- An

effective blasting will not only be given to the points of the plug but as well to the inside end of the plug.

In order to form these passages in the head it is desirable to drill through its outer .wall. .To close the exterior openings thus drilled, and also to permit access to the passages 18 and 15 there are provided the inspection plugs 19 and 26. The spark plug itself is separated from the boss 21 by a conventional gasket 22.

In use, once the piston compresses the charge of explosive fuel in the combustion chamber a part thereof will flow through passage 15 into passage 18. During such flow the charge will force any burned fuel away from points 16 because of the turbulence resulting from the right angle turns. When the plug points fire the fuel, the fuel that is in the expulsion passage 18 and in the passage 15 will explode and fire the compressed charge in the combustion chamber. Since the expulsion passage 13 is larger than passage 15 and further away from the cylinder there will be a prolonging of the fire stream. This results in the firing end of the spark plug getting a blasting from the explosion and from the exploded fuel that will flow from the expulsion passage 18 past the points and through passage 15 into the cylinder. Thus with each firing of a charge of fuel the plug points are cleaned by the explosion and by the rush of air from the expulsion passage.

A modification of the invention is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 wherein an attachment is illustrated for ready connection to the head of an internal combustion engine. In the modification the plug 117 is threaded in opening 125 in the body 126 of the attachment so that the points 116 of the plug are disposed at the upper portion of an expulsion passage 118. This passage leads to passage which in turn communicates with the combustion chamber.

The lower portion of the body 126 is reduced and threaded at 127 so that it may be screwed into that engine head hole in which the plug would normally be threaded. By reason of the fact that the head of the internal combustion engine may be at an angle to the vertical as in a V-8 engine instead of in an upright position as shown in the figures there is provided a second opening 128 in the body 126. This opening is threaded for reception of a spark plug 1170.. It is to be understood that spark plug 117a will not be used in the event spark plug 117 is being used. That is to say, plug 117:: will merely be any type of closure plug to close hole opening 128 when spark plug 117 is being used. Should, however, the inclination of the head be such as to make it desirable to use opening 128 then an ordinary closing plug will be screwed into opening while a regular spark plug will be threaded into opening 128. In use, the same firing and cleaning action will result from employment of the modification as results from the use of the main embodiment of the invention.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the prcferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come Within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

1. An automatic spark plug points cleaning construction for an internal combustion engine comprising a body having an opening for reception of a spark plug, a pair of relatively elongated and parallel passages formed in said body, one of said passages having a right angle turn communicating with said other passage and being adapted for communication with a combustion chamber of said engine and the other passage being coaxial with said spark plug opening and leading to said one passage past said opening and through the right angle turn portion of said one passage.

2. An automatic spark plug points cleaning construction for an internal combustion engine comprising a body having an opening for reception of a spark plug, said body having a portion for mounting in theopening of the engine head normally used to receive the spark plug, a pair of connecting passages formed in said body, one of said passages having a right angle turn portion and being adapted for communication with a combustion chamber of said engine and the other passage leading to said one passage through said right angle turn portion past said first mentioned opening, said other passage being coaxial with said first mentioned opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lag 

